The decision by Queens Park Rangers to sign Robert Green during the summer and then replace him as their first-choice goalkeeper with Julio Cesar has mystified many.
But West Ham No1 Jussi Jaaskelainen, who was signed as Green’s replacement by manager Sam Allardyce, is pragmatic about events at Loftus Road.
Brazil international Cesar looks certain to be in goal against West Ham tonight and Jaaskelainen said: “Things like that happen in football. Look at me, I played 14 seasons on the bounce at Bolton but then I got injured and someone else came in and took their chance.
“That’s fair enough because it’s part of football — you just have to get on with it.”
Jaaskelainen, 37, is hoping his move to Upton Park can help extend his playing career into his Forties. “I was prepared to fight for my place and Bolton had offered me a two-year contract,” said Jaaskelainen.
“I was very happy, though, when Sam said he wanted to sign me and I said to myself: ‘Just do it’ because I know the way he looks after his players. I know the way he looks at every detail in preparation to help get that extra edge.
“Hopefully, by coming to West Ham and playing under him, he will get two or three years more out of me. I’m happy here. The backroom staff are brilliant, I’m happy with the goalkeeping coach and the squad are good.”
While West Ham and Jaaskelainen have made a solid start to the season, QPR are bottom of the Premier League.
The big Finn, however, believes tonight’s London derby followed by another on Saturday — at home against Arsenal — will be a more accurate measure of the club’s progress since their return to the top flight.
Jaaskelainen said: “Yes, it has been a solid start but the next two games will tell us more. We’re not there yet but if we can earn a few points from those matches, then we can definitely say it has been a very good start.
“Big Sam has been in the Premier League before and he knows what players he wants to give us the best chance. If you look at what he has done even since I’ve been here, you would have to say he has put together a good squad.”
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Allardyce has been criticised for his style of football at Upton Park but Jaaskelainen says he doesn’t care how the team play as long as they are winning.
“The criticism Sam receives doesn’t puzzle me because you go out to win every match,” said the Finn, who has won 56 senior international caps. “To do that, you have to play in different ways, employ different methods.
“I’m just glad when we win a match. I’m not worried about the style.”
